As we wind down this year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the learning we have done together. You told me your most beloved episodes from this year, and beginning on December 22nd, I am re-releasing the best of the best! In this post, I’ve included a short summary for each episode, but to hear the whole thing, just click the title to be taken to the original post.

Join me as we count down to 2019!

No matter what space you’re organizing, this is always the first step. Get rid of trash, food, and items that are broken, and you’ve made instant visual progress.

I don’t subscribe to the belief that you have to get rid of everything to be organized. I am not a minimalist. But when you only have things in your home that you believe to be beautiful, useful, or sentimental, you are well on your way to leading an organized life.

(There’s a free printable in the post for this episode, so make sure you snag it!)

Ah, the fun part! This is the part many people want to jump right to once they decide to overhaul a space. If you do that, however, you will still end up with a cluttered space, and won’t get the true benefits of being organized.

Organization is a challenge because it involves a deep understanding of your own habit patterns and personality, as well as your true needs for your space.

This episode contains specific action steps for a few of the most confounding spaces, including your paper, your closet, and your kitchen.

What that looks like will be different for everyone, but generally, productivity is having the time and mental clarity to do more of what you want to accomplish.

This last part is only accomplished if you do the first two steps well and completely. But oh, is it so worth it! I list lots of different examples of productivity in this episode, and share how I became such a productive person.

Speaking of productivity, dividing your year into thirds is one of my very favorite productivity hacks. Not only does this make planning much more manageable, you get to ride seasonal waves of energy that we all naturally have.

Whether you are setting goals, managing your schedule, or planning holidays and events, separating the year into these natural trimesters really changes the way you think about your time.

I love this idea so much, I even created planners that follow these years! All of the details are in the episode’s post.

Many of us feel that we don’t have enough time simply because the expectations imposed on us are too intense for any sane human being to handle.

But there are naturally occurring times in life where you can harness bursts of energy and get more done. Whether your goal is to organize your home or finally tackle a long-awaited project, these Golden Windows are the perfect time.

I know there are a lot of you out there that love planners as much as I do! I remember my very first Franklin Covey planner that I used for years. It was sharp, beautiful, and made me feel as though I could do anything!

Nowadays, I use my Google calendar for scheduling. I don’t use a paper planner for appointments anymore, and I don’t keep a running to do list. But I DO have a system for cataloging my errands, ideas, and lists!

I love this episode because toward the end, I speak to the heart of the matter of productivity. Why are we delegating our time to certain activities, and are we stewarding that time well?

This one’s for the mamas out there. I’m talking to you, the one who hasn’t showered since the day before yesterday, the one who was up all night, the one who lives in her minivan.

The one who simply does not have enough time or enough of herself to go around.

For you, fifteen minutes a day to organize your home feels like a luxury to end all luxuries. You couldn’t possibly. But also, your daughter has no clean underwear, you missed the permission slip deadline, and your husband just risked his own life by asking you what’s for dinner.

You can get organized, and you can fit it into your crazy busy stage of life, with this episode.

Of all the episodes I recorded in 2018, this one was your favorite, and probably mine, too.

When I talk about making time for home organization, I’m often met with resistance. People just don’t believe they have any time in their day to do anything extra.

But I also hear about people spending hours couponing, or combing online yard sales, or driving across town to use that discount before it expires. At the end of the day, those people may have spent less dollars, but did they use less of their resources?

I have made the shift from thinking of myself and my time as my most valuable resource, rather than that title belonging to my money.

It was a monumental mindset shift.

Thank you!

Phew! I am fulfilled, proud, and incredibly energized. There is nothing I love more than sharing what I’ve learned with you and watching you thrive.

If there is a topic you’d love to see me cover in a future episode, or someone you think I should interview, please email me and let me know!